Weather(Tornado) Question

Stop until you can figure out which way it's going?
Turn around and drive away from it?
Find the closest school and hope someone will let you in?

 

There are several things you can do. First is having knowledge.From the end of March to the end of April in the Plains States and the Midwest is tornadoe(sp) season. The second is to watch or listen to national weather forecasts daily. The third is to expect bad weather anytime of the year. The fourth is if you are parked and a tornadoe hits head inside and head a walkin fridge or freezer. The fifith is tornadoes usually go from the southwest to the northeast. The sixth is pay attention to the weather outside your windshield. Quite often there are clues that the weather is changing rapidly. The seventh is PAY ATTENTION. The eighth is the storm you drove thru on Wed will catch up to you on Thurs. while your are parked if its a fast moving storm.

 

March-April??? Nope, not so much. Try March through the end of June for the area commonly called Tornado Alley. Where I live and grew up (Kansas), the most severe tornadoes struck during the first part of June.

You want to be aware that the biggest danger with them is the flying debris. Depending on the severity level of the tornado, debris can be carried for miles. In the screenshot I've attached, debris from a tornado that struck Andover, Ks, was found as far away as Reading, KS. This is about 95 miles. Granted large debris will not go that far, but it gives you an idea about how debris is carried along with the storm. Close to the tornado, this debris causes the major damage. Imagine lumber being thrown around at 100+ mph, or the worst would be all the glass.

Most of the time with the larger EF3-EF5 tornadoes, you will experience very large hail (golf-ball to softball sized) around it. This can also be very damaging, and deadly if your caught out in it. It would be akin to being struck by a baseball thrown by a professional pitcher. This stuff does not fall gently from the sky.

Like it has been stated already, when you are driving into an area that is under a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch, keep abreast of what's happening ahead of you. Listen to the radio, weather radio, internet to keep up to date. Learn what to look for, and where to look in storm cells for developing funnels or tornadoes. Being able to recognize them early on, will allow you to avoid them.

Now if you're at a truckstop and one approaches, get out of that truck and into a building. A truck is worse than a mobilehome, and they are no match for even small tornadoes. If they don't get blown over, they will be damaged by flying debris, such as small cars, lumber, metal, ect..

Driving at night into an area that is experiencing strong to severe thunderstorms is one of the most dangerous things to do, especially if the storm has the potential to produce tornadoes. You will not be able to see if the storm is becoming tornadic. Again, radio (AM-FM, weather radio, and CB) are a must. You can use your CB to ask other drivers you meet what the weather is like behind them. I think this would be the one major reason for all drivers to use the CB radio. I recently upgraded my cellphone to a smartphone. One app that I purchased was Radar Alive Pro. I'd say it is one of the best tools you can have while out on the road. I can touch the screen near a storm, a small pop-up will tell you just how far you are from that storm. One good indication that it may not be safe to proceed, is the lack of opposing vehicles, when their should be. That should tell you something is not quite right ahead. In the path of storms, LEOs will stop traffic, not allowing it to proceed into a known path of tornado. If a tornado has passed through an area and caused major damage, such as downed power-lines, trees, or just debris, the road may be blocked from it. Find somewhere to stop and wait until it is safe to proceed, or find an alternate route.

 

I always wanted to see a tornado from afar while I was out on the interstate, but never did see one in ten years.

 

If you are caught on the road with a tornado approaching, don't try to outrun it. Stop, get out of the truck, and go lie down in a ditch face down. Don't get into an underpass, or get under some trees.

 

But first, grab your computer.

If you don't have time to grab your computer, you are dead anyways.


And, lie down in a ditch?

Most roads I run on don't really have any.


Me?
I'll try to turn away from it and outrun it.
A right angle seems best to me.

 

even being in a storm that is producing them, much less seeing one, can be pretty terrifying.

 

You can't outrun them. Weather experts agree the folks with the highest survival rate get in the lowest depression they can find. Staying in the truck will most probably kill you.

 

if you have to drive, go south and east or west....

Most tornadoes travel to the North and East.